scholarly journals Total viral genome copies and virus–Ig complexes after infection with influenza virus in the nasal secretions of immunized mice

2004 ◽  
Vol 85 (8) ◽  
pp. 2339-2346 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomoki Yoshikawa ◽  
Keiko Matsuo ◽  
Kazutoshi Matsuo ◽  
Yujiro Suzuki ◽  
Akio Nomoto ◽  
...  

The kinetics of infectious virus (p.f.u.), total virus and virus–Ig complex formation following influenza A/PR8 (H1N1) viral infection was examined in the nasal secretions of naive mice and mice immunized with A/PR8, A/Yamagata (H1N1), A/Guizhou (H3N2) and B/Ibaraki influenza viruses. The total number of virus particles and the number within virus–Ig complexes, captured in advance using an anti-mouse Ig-coated plate, were determined on the basis of viral genome copy number using quantitative RT-PCR. The kinetics of infectious and total virus particle formation, the latter of which increased by 103–104-fold above infectious virus numbers, showed that virus elimination from the nasal area was earlier in A/PR8, A/Yamagata and A/Guizhou-X virus-immunized mice, in decreasing order, compared with naive mice. Early virus elimination correlated with the level of A/PR8 virus-reactive antibodies in immunized mice. Virus elimination coincided with the appearance of virus–Ig complexes shortly after infection. This result suggested that antibodies led to the formation of immune complexes in a dose-dependent manner together with a reduction in number of infectious virus particles. The fact that a large number of virus particles was observed in immune complexes for a wide range antibody levels made it difficult to detect slight differences in virus number within the immune complexes, depending on antibody level. These results suggested that the formation of virus–Ig complexes in virus-immunized mice shortly after infection is involved in early virus elimination, which is determined by the strength of protective immunity against challenge viruses.

2019 ◽  
Vol 70 (8) ◽  
pp. 2803-2804
Author(s):  
George A. Draghici ◽  
Cristina A. Dehelean ◽  
Iulia Pinzaru ◽  
Despina M. Bordean ◽  
Georgeta Pop ◽  
...  

Cadmium is very hazardous pollutant with massive impact on aspects of everyday life. Little knowledge exists on kinetics of dietary cadmium retention in Cantareus aspersus for durations above three months although this species of land snails serves as excellent ecotoxicological model for studying cadmium hazard. Here was used a continuous 112-day exposure study design, in which test snails were exposed to a wide range of dietary cadmium levels, including human- and environmentally-relevant levels. Using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry, cadmium levels in the hepatopancreas were found to increase significantly, and in dose-dependent manner starting from a dietary cadmium dose of 0.2 mg/kg dry weight. The results of the present study render the hepatopancreas of mature snails, C. aspersus, as excellent endpoints for assessing Cd toxicity over a broad range of concentrations. Hence, this species of land snails can be reliably used for both active and passive biomonitoring of environmental cadmium pollution.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clare M. Williams ◽  
Sreeja Roy ◽  
Danielle Califano ◽  
Andrew N. J. McKenzie ◽  
Dennis W. Metzger ◽  
...  

Interleukin (IL)-33 is a multifunctional cytokine that mediates type 2 dominated immune responses. In contrast, the role of IL-33 during viral vaccination, which often aims to induce type 1 immunity, has not been fully investigated. Here we examined the effects of IL-33 on influenza vaccine responses. We found that intranasal co-administration of IL-33 with an inactivated influenza virus vaccine increases the vaccine efficacy against influenza infection, not only with the homologous strain, but also heterologous strains including the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic strain. The cross-protection was dependent on group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s), as the beneficial effect of IL-33 on vaccine efficacy was abrogated in ILC2-deficient C57BL/6 Il7r P Cre/+ P Rora P fl/fl P mice. Further, mechanistic studies revealed that IL-33 activated ILC2s potentiate vaccine efficacy by enhancing mucosal humoral immunity, particularly IgA responses, potentially via a Th2 cytokine dependent manner. Our results demonstrate that IL-33-mediated activation of ILC2s is a critical early event that is important for the induction of mucosal humoral immunity, which in turn is responsible for cross-strain protection against influenza. Thus, we reveal a previously unrecognized role for the IL-33/ILC2 axis in establishing broadly protective and long-lasting humoral mucosal immunity against influenza – knowledge that may help develop a universal influenza vaccine. Importance Current influenza vaccines, although capable of protecting against predicted viruses/strains included in the vaccine, are inept at providing cross-protection against emerging/novel strains. Thus, we are in critical need for a universal vaccine that can protect against a wide range of influenza viruses. Our novel findings show that a mucosal vaccination strategy involving the activation of lung ILC2s is highly effective in eliciting cross-protective humoral immunity in the lungs. This suggests that the biology of lung ILC2s can be exploited to increase the cross-reactivity of commercially available influenza subunit vaccines.


1966 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 357-361 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. Drees ◽  
K. D. Demme

The intact virus particles of highly purified, concentrated suspensions of poliovirus have been disintegrated into free nucleic acid and empty protein shells (78 S protein) by moderate heat treatment at various temperatures and pH values. The kinetics of this degradation has been followed by ultracentrifugal analysis.With increasing temperature between 35° and 50 °C and with increasing pH of the suspension medium between 7 and 8, the rate of degradation increased. For any particular conditions the initial rate was not maintained, and after a certain time there was little further degradation if conditions remained unaltered. Some particles with the sedimentation characteristics of poliovirus were resistant to disintegration under the same conditions which led to the breakdown of the bulk of the virus. The proportion of this “stable fraction” varied within a wide range from one preparation to another and decreased with increasing temperature and with increasing pʜ.


Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 1656
Author(s):  
Jeremy R. A. Paull ◽  
Carolyn A. Luscombe ◽  
Alex Castellarnau ◽  
Graham P. Heery ◽  
Michael D. Bobardt ◽  
...  

Strategies to combat COVID-19 require multiple ways to protect vulnerable people from infection. SARS-CoV-2 is an airborne pathogen and the nasal cavity is a primary target of infection. The K18-hACE2 mouse model was used to investigate the anti-SARS-CoV-2 efficacy of astodrimer sodium formulated in a mucoadhesive nasal spray. Animals received astodrimer sodium 1% nasal spray or PBS intranasally, or intranasally and intratracheally, for 7 days, and they were infected intranasally with SARS-CoV-2 after the first product administration on Day 0. Another group was infected intranasally with SARS-CoV-2 that had been pre-incubated with astodrimer sodium 1% nasal spray or PBS for 60 min before the neutralisation of test product activity. Astodrimer sodium 1% significantly reduced the viral genome copies (>99.9%) and the infectious virus (~95%) in the lung and trachea vs. PBS. The pre-incubation of SARS-CoV-2 with astodrimer sodium 1% resulted in a significant reduction in the viral genome copies (>99.9%) and the infectious virus (>99%) in the lung and trachea, and the infectious virus was not detected in the brain or liver. Astodrimer sodium 1% resulted in a significant reduction of viral genome copies in nasal secretions vs. PBS on Day 7 post-infection. A reduction in the viral shedding from the nasal cavity may result in lower virus transmission rates. Viraemia was low or undetectable in animals treated with astodrimer sodium 1% or infected with treated virus, correlating with the lack of detectable viral replication in the liver. Similarly, low virus replication in the nasal cavity after treatment with astodrimer sodium 1% potentially protected the brain from infection. Astodrimer sodium 1% significantly reduced the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-1α, IL-1β, TNFα and TGFβ and the chemokine MCP-1 in the serum, lung and trachea vs. PBS. Astodrimer sodium 1% nasal spray blocked or reduced SARS-CoV-2 replication and its sequelae in K18-hACE2 mice. These data indicate a potential role for the product in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection or for reducing the severity of COVID-19.


Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (9) ◽  
pp. 2327
Author(s):  
Emily S. Medina-Magües ◽  
Anna Stedman ◽  
Paul Hope ◽  
Jorge E. Osorio

In an attempt to create novel methods to reduce the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses, fabric material was treated with Viruferrin™ and tested for its inactivating properties against the pandemic severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and influenza A viruses. Inactivating properties were evaluated by comparing Viruferrin-treated and cotton control fabric material with and without the application of saliva at various time points after virus exposure. A statistically significant (p < 0.0001) decrease in the number of infectious virus particles exposed to Viruferrin-treated fabric when compared with the cotton control for both SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A viruses was observed. For both SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A, Viruferrin-treated fabrics experienced a >99% virus reduction without saliva after five minutes of contact when compared to the positive control at time point 0. Furthermore, the reusability of the Viruferrin treated fabric was demonstrated by stability for up to 10 washes. The level of anti-viral (SARS-CoV-2) activity remained constant from 5 to 10 washes and demonstrated a significant difference (p < 0.0001) from the unwashed untreated material. Applications for this treated fabric are far reaching, as a biological face covering offers not only a unique 2-way protection but also is unlikely to cause onward touch transmission.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Jin Zhao ◽  
Yanbing Hao ◽  
Xuanzi Xia ◽  
Runfeng Li ◽  
Xiaodong Huang ◽  
...  

Background. Chaiqin Qingning Capsule (CQ-C) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula commonly used to treat respiratory infectious diseases in China. The aim of this study was to detect the effect and mechanism of CQ-C treated with influenza virus in vitro and vivo. Methods. The cytotoxicity and antiviral activity of CQ-C in vitro was determined by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay. The regulation of CQ-C on cytokine/chemokine expression was evaluated using RT-qPCR. In addition, the effect of CQ-C on the pathway protein, NF-κB, and its phosphorylation level was verified by western blotting. After virus inoculation, BALB/c mice were administered with CQ-C of different concentrations for 7 days. Body weight, viral titer, lung pathology, and mortality of the mice were measured, and the level of inflammatory cytokines was also examined using real-time RT-qPCR. Results. CQ-C inhibited the proliferation of influenza virus of various strains in vitro, with the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) ranging from 49 to 59 µg/mL. CQ-C downregulated virus-induced gene expression of IL-6, TNF-α, CXCL8, CXCL10, CCL5, and COX-2 in a dose-dependent manner in A549 cells. Also, CQ-C inhibited the expression of NF-κB protein of the signaling pathway. Moreover, a decrease of the lung index and mortality of mice was observed in the CQ-C (1 g/kg/d) group. The related cytokine/chemokine expression was also decreased in the early stages of infection in the mRNA level. Conclusion. As a clinically applied Chinese prescription, our study shows that CQ-C has a wide range of effects on several influenza viruses. Moreover, CQ-C could play an important role in anti-influenza activity and anti-inflammation in vitro and in vivo. Thus, CQ-C may be a promising treatment option for influenza.


Author(s):  
R.W. Horne

The technique of surrounding virus particles with a neutralised electron dense stain was described at the Fourth International Congress on Electron Microscopy, Berlin 1958 (see Home & Brenner, 1960, p. 625). For many years the negative staining technique in one form or another, has been applied to a wide range of biological materials. However, the full potential of the method has only recently been explored following the development and applications of optical diffraction and computer image analytical techniques to electron micrographs (cf. De Hosier & Klug, 1968; Markham 1968; Crowther et al., 1970; Home & Markham, 1973; Klug & Berger, 1974; Crowther & Klug, 1975). These image processing procedures have allowed a more precise and quantitative approach to be made concerning the interpretation, measurement and reconstruction of repeating features in certain biological systems.


Diabetes ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 40 (5) ◽  
pp. 628-632 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Jensen ◽  
V. Kruse ◽  
U. D. Larsen

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luke Jordan ◽  
Nathan Wittenberg

This is a comprehensive study of the effects of the four major brain gangliosides (GM1, GD1b, GD1a, and GT1b) on the adsorption and rupture of phospholipid vesicles on SiO2 surfaces for the formation of supported lipid bilayer (SLB) membranes. Using quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) we show that gangliosides GD1a and GT1b significantly slow the SLB formation process, whereas GM1 and GD1b have smaller effects. This is likely due to the net ganglioside charge as well as the positions of acidic sugar groups on ganglioside glycan head groups. Data is included that shows calcium can accelerate the formation of ganglioside-rich SLBs. Using fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) we also show that the presence of gangliosides significantly reduces lipid diffusion coefficients in SLBs in a concentration-dependent manner. Finally, using QCM-D and GD1a-rich SLB membranes we measure the binding kinetics of an anti-GD1a antibody that has similarities to a monoclonal antibody that is a hallmark of a variant of Guillain-Barre syndrome.


Author(s):  
Rami Obeid ◽  
Elias Wehbe ◽  
Mohamad Rima ◽  
Mohammad Kabara ◽  
Romeo Al Bersaoui ◽  
...  

Background: Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) is the most known virus in the plant mosaic virus family and is able to infect a wide range of crops, in particularly tobacco, causing a production loss. Objectives: Herein, and for the first time in Lebanon, we investigated the presence of TMV infection in crops by analyzing 88 samples of tobacco, tomato, cucumber and pepper collected from different regions in North Lebanon. Methods: Double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA), revealed a potential TMV infection of four tobacco samples out of 88 crops samples collected. However, no tomato, cucumber and pepper samples were infected. The TMV+ tobacco samples were then extensively analyzed by RT-PCR to detect viral RNA using different primers covering all the viral genome. Results and Discussion: PCR results confirmed those of DAS-ELISA showing TMV infection of four tobacco samples collected from three crop fields of North Lebanon. In only one of four TMV+ samples, we were able to amplify almost all the regions of viral genome, suggesting possible mutations in the virus genome or an infection with a new, not yet identified, TMV strain. Conclusion: Our study is the first in Lebanon revealing TMV infection in crop fields, and highlighting the danger that may affect the future of agriculture.


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